How Does Your Seating Sit With Jesus?

15th Sunday after Pentecost, 9/22/19
Luke 14:1, 7-14

How Does Your Seating Sit With Jesus?
I. Does it display arrogance or humility?
II. Does it flow from selfishness or charity?

Even with the societal push for equality among all people, where you sit is still an indication of your place in society.

The owner of the Dallas Cowboys doesn’t sit in the 50th row in the end zone directly behind the goalpost. He can be seen every home game inside his luxury box located near the 50-yard line, entertaining friends.

If you’re going to the opera, I’ve been told the most expensive seats in the house are the center orchestra. Usually you’ll find those seats occupied by society’s “upper crust.”

And while your children might shout “shotgun!” to get the front passenger seat in your vehicle, if you can afford a limo driven by a chauffeur, the best seat is in the back.

In most families with children, there are certain seats or chairs that are reserved for Dad and Mom, whether that’s at the dining table or in the family room. And if one of the children happens to be sitting in one of those seats because Dad isn’t home at the moment, when he does arrive home, that child knows they’ll probably have to find another seat as soon as Dad wants to sit down. There’s a pecking order regarding seating in the house, and that’s just the way it is.

Today’s worship theme speaks about and encourages the Christian spirit of humility. And it might seem like a small matter, but our choice of seats for ourselves and whom we invite to be seated with us reveals much about what’s inside us.

I suppose that’s been true about sinful people ever since the fall into sin. It certainly was that way during the days when Jesus carried out his ministry on earth. And so Jesus used this occasion before us this morning to speak a parable about humility. That parable subtly asks us to evaluate our attitude towards ourselves and others. Let’s do that as we ask, “How does your seating sit with Jesus?” May the Holy Spirit use this opportunity to cause us to make honest self-evaluations and offer our Lord repentant hearts when our attitudes are not in line with God-pleasing humility.

Part I.

When I’m out among people I’ve never met before, I don’t mind pausing to do some people-watching. Do you do that from time to time? If so, I’m sure you’ve noticed some unusual behavior and some questionable choices in clothing, hairdos, and jewelry. Or you watch how people interact with friends or family members, and at times you’re appalled that they would act that way in public. People watching. It’s free and it can be entertaining.

Jesus did some people watching on this day in his ministry. Luke records it like this: “One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched. He noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table.” This dinner occurred at the home of a leading Pharisee on a Sabbath, which, for important Jewish people, was a high society event. The Pharisees used this event to continue watching for Jesus to violate some Jewish law so that they could discredit him. But Jesus did some watching of his own. How watched how the guests jostled for the best seats.

To understand what this might have looked like, you need to understand Jewish dining customs. They did not sit at grand tables, such as depicted in da Vinci’s The Last Supper. The Jews reclined at the table. They stretched themselves out on low, backless couches (like a large ottoman). They leaned on their left elbow with their feet at the end of the couch and their heads just over the edge of the table. Can you imagine that scene? It made conversation difficult. You were always talking into the back of the head of the person in front of you. The best seat at the table was the one at the far left because that was the only person who had a view of everyone else. The worst seat was the poor person who was seated last and had no one in front of him.

So imagine that scene as the host invites all these important Pharisees, who already thought far too much of themselves, to have a seat at the table. There weren’t place cards at each seat indicating who was supposed to sit where. The guests were left to politely struggle for the best seat, taking into consideration who they thought they were and who else was invited. Not the best way to begin what was intended to be a joyful dinner event. I can imagine many such dinners began with many hurt feelings and wounded egos.

So, Jesus gives them some practical advice. “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this man your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests.”

That’s some solid dining advice. But, is Jesus merely concerned about proper dining etiquette? Of course not! He’s concerned with the attitude of your heart. And so he concludes with these words, words which he spoke at other times under similar circumstances, “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

How does your seating sit with Jesus? Does it display arrogance or humility?

Let’s broaden our focus from your choice of seats to your daily words and actions in every situation. What do your words and actions display about your attitude about yourself? If Jesus were watching (and he always is), what would he see? Would he see you taking the lowest seat in the house? I’m sure there are times he would. We often recall his command for us to be humble before others and we, at times, succeed to show it. But let’s be honest. There are far too many times when we struggle to be humble. We’re sick and tired of thinking about others and this time it’s going to be our turn. This time it’s all about me, and if others don’t like it, that’s tough. Deal with it! It’s about time others recognize how much we do for them. It’s about time someone commends us for who we are.

Not very Christ-like, is it? St. Paul once told us that our attitude should be the same as that of Jesus who humbled himself all the way to death on a cross. In fact, God-pleasing humility filled every day of his life. It had to, because we’re not the humble people God demands us to be. But we have a Savior who humbled himself for us and died for every time we thought more of ourselves than we ought. How does your seating sit with Jesus? When you take to heart his humility for you, you have the power to produce the humility he’s looking for.

Part II.

The numbers don’t lie. America is the most generous nation on earth when it comes to supporting charities. According to a recent survey, two-thirds of American agree that it’s very important for them to be a generous person. But 45% of Americans actually gave no money to a charity in 2016. Obviously, something’s not right.

In this setting of our text, Jesus addressed that situation. In effect he asked his host, “Do you give to others? And, if you do, why?” Listen again to his words, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Behind his instructions to his host are some unspoken questions. One of them is, “When you think you’re being charitable, are you doing so freely or under compulsion?” Another way of asking that is, “Am I giving because I want to, or because I’m expected to?” The only proper motivation for Christian giving is love for Christ and thanks for all he’s done for us.

The other question behind Jesus’ instructions to his host is this, “Are you giving simply for the sake of giving, or are you expecting something in return?” That’s another insightful question, one we would do well to ask ourselves. You see, Jesus isn’t so much concerned about what you do; he’s concerned about why you do it. And if you’re trying to be outwardly nice and friendly towards others, but your reason for doing so is selfishness, then don’t do it. Such an attitude is sinful.

And so Jesus directed his host to give to people who can’t possibly return the favor. That way you’re more likely to do it simply out of love for Christ and thanks to him for all he’s done for you.

So, let’s ask our focus question once more. How does your seating sit with Jesus? Does it flow from selfishness or charity?

As you answer that question for yourself, keep in mind that you can never out-give God. He sacrificed his most precious treasure—his Son, Jesus— for you, in order that you can be forgiven and assured of life with him in heaven. He did that out of his grace, his favor, towards you. There was nothing good in you that he should do it and there’s nothing he expects in return. He doesn’t need anything from us. But he desires first place in your heart. He wants your heart filled with love for him and thanks toward him. And he wants your words and actions to others to flow from that pure heart.

So, the next time you’re looking for a seat or inviting someone to fill a seat, keep that in mind. He wants your heart filled with love for him. When your seating flows from that kind of heart, it sits eternally well with him. Amen.